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Internal & External Rotation

Internal rotation, as well as external rotation are similar to abduction and adduction, but this time it involves rotating, rather than moving. 

 

 

An example of internal and external rotation is when your right foot is pointing towards your left foot, that would be internal rotation since you are rotating your foot towards the midline. External rotation would be when your right foot is pointing in the opposite direction of your left foot.

The definition of internal rotation is rotating towards the midline, or rather in an inward direction. 

External rotation is indeed the opposite of internal rotation. External rotation involves rotating away from the midline, or moving in an outward direction.

 

The picture on the left shows a lady whos knees point outwards first, then inwards after. This is an example of internal and external rotation. The first picture is when the knees face outwards, or away from the midline, which is external rotation. The second picture is when the knees are point inward, or closer to the midline of the body, which is internal rotation.

This video will show what the difference is between internal and external rotation through a series of exercises. This will help visualize what an internal roation exercise as well as an external rotation exercise looks like.

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